CEA and infections (not cancer)

[CatzinDJ]

I found out recently that I have latent Tuberculosis. I'm now on strong meds for the next 9 months to prevent the TB from becoming active. I acquired this disease living overseas, working in Africa and working with someone with active TB. (He might not know he has active TB.)


Anyhow, when you have an infection, such as TB, does that cause the CEA to not be in the normal range? I'm NED but the CEA is always out of range, and I'm wondering if the TB could be the cause of that.

[CRguy]

Anyhow, when you have an infection, such as TB, does that cause the CEA to not be in the normal range? I'm NED but the CEA is always out of range, and I'm wondering if the TB could be the cause of theat.

ANY inflammation in the body ... BUTT especially chest ... can cause CEA to be elevated
and NOT related to cancer.

Sorry for the TB challenge now, ... BUTT keep kickin ass !!!!

Best wishes
CRguy

[O Stoma Mia]

For your information, here is a list of possible false positives for elevated CEA:

Carcino Embryonic Antigen (CEA) - False Positives

•Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
•Pancreatitis.
•Liver disease.
•Tobacco use can lead to elevated CEA levels. (CEA is elevated in 19% of smokers and only 3% of the non-smoking healthy population.)
•Diverticulitis.
•Hepatitis.
•Peptic ulcers.
•Hypothyroidism.
•Cirrhosis of the liver.
•COPD.
•Lung infection.
•Pleural effusions.
•Biliary obstruction.
•Treatment with oral 5-FU.
•High serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (sGPT) levels.

Reference: http://www.kantrowitz.com/cancerpoints/tumormarkerfalsepositives.html

[rp1954]

Both CRC and TB share a common deficiency: vitamin D3. A lot of CRC patients, like my wife, have had refractory vitamin D deficiencies that have taken 10,000 iu per day, even 20,000 iu per day, to simply normalize their vitamin D blood levels. Therapeutic levels to augment cancer treatments can go much higher but need a little monitoring and knowledge about supplements.

Ditto IV vitamin C. Both therapeutic levels of vitamin D3 and IV vitamin C may help with inflammation too. As always, it is important to find good, experienced support for any therapy.

[CatzinDJ]

Thanks again each of you! I will increase my vitamin D. I'm on vitamin b6 for the TB.

[dianetavegia]

YES! My CEA was 5.8 six months ago and had been in the 3.4 range for quite a while, like 9 years. I asked to have my thyroid checked because hypothyroidism elevates CEA. I was right and with 5 months of treatment, my CEA dropped to 2.8. The endo said it can take 4 to 9 months to get the CEA to what it would be if you had a 'perfect' thyroid.

Also, my cholesterol was out of whack but the treatment of my thyroid brought it all back to well within normal range.